frizzen covers; rubbish or worthwhile?

[robin du bois]

I just bought one thinking that it would help keep the frizzen clean while wandering about the hills. Are there drawbacks to this device or do they perform as one would expect?

 

[Griz]

I like to use mine as a second safety. When in thick brush and the brush is catching the hammer, if it would happen to slip off half cock the leather will keep from making any sparks. HOWEVER, I do not rely on it as a safety. just as a little extra help. :imo: :m2c:

 

[Musketeer]

Another Arizonan! Woo-Hoo! Hammerstalls (frizzen covers) are mainly used to keep the hammer (frizzen) dry in wet weather. I keep one in my shooting bag just in case, but I've never actually had to use it. As Griz said, it could provide an added measure of safety, just remeber to flip it off before you shoot! :shocking: :crackup: :thumbsup:

 

[roundball]

:hmm: :hmm: :hmm: So far, everything I've read about hammer stalls had to do with safety...seems like if it was so wet I wanted to keep my frizzen dry, I'd probably want a cow's knee or something to keep the entire lock & pan dry... I think I've read where it's mandatory for re-enactors to use them in their group activities too
:m2c:

Anyhow, I just recently put them on all my[url] flintlocks...made[/url] out of thick, snug fitting leather...I can now sit on a deer stand with the hammer back and not worry about an accidental discharge if the hammer were to drop
:results:

 

[Musketeer]

Roundball, I believe you are right! After thinkin' about it for a few minutes, it occurred to me that a dry hammer isn't gonna do much good with a dripping wet flint! :shocking:Sorry for the misinformation, Robin! :redface: :shocking: :thumbsup:

 

A Cow's Knee, if that's what you are talking about, is GREAT in a downpour. A hammerstall(frizen cover) has no use that I can see, other than perhaps storing a rifle loaded and primed. The hammerstall will prevent sparks if the cock was to slip the 1/2 cock knotch.
: I generally carry the rifle with the lock btween my arm and my side to keep water out of it. As well, a rim of grease over the frizzen/barrel joint keeps everything dry.
Daryl

 

[Stumpkiller]

Never used a hammerstall, but then there's a lot of things I don't use.

I see them mainly as a safety device for traders having flintlocks laid out on blankets and tables to keep the gawkers from snapping the locks.

I wouldn't use it as a hunting safety, but certainly not a bad idea with a loaded but unprimed flinter in a camp, car or home.

 

[bdarin]

I use one that I made just cuz it looks cool. :thumbsup:

 

[Henry]

Yes, it is mandatory at some re-enacting events
but remember that in the XVIII th cent. drill , you
prime the pan first , with the cartrige , and then
load the gun . A hammerstall makes a lot of sense
when you have other shooters around and public near by .


Henry

 

[Darkhorse]

I wouldn't be without one on any of my flintlocks. For one thing they will keep oil and dirt off the frizzen though I don't depend on it to keep things dry.
The main use for me is the safety side of things. I transport my rifles a lot on ATV's, in trucks and on foot. I also hunt above the ground.
When climbing up or down I empty the pan, insert a toothpick in the touchhole and let the flint down on the hammer stall. An accident can happen anytime and this will help protect my own butt when one does. I have also cocked the rifle and left the hammer stall on the frizzen when on stand, even though thats not recommended from a safety standpoint.
The stall is tied to the triggerguard with leather or a piece of sinew and it is simple and quick to remove it and just let it dangle.
I also keep a cows knee in the bag and use it for walking through heavy dew before daylight, or when sitting in fog.

 

[Griz]

I am going to take his question a step further. Has anyone left them on for an extended period of time and the chemicals from tanning the leather rusted the frizzen? I have always been told not to let a pistol in a leather holster for that reason. Could this also happen to a frizzen? just courious.

 

The hardened frizzen would be less suseptable to rusting that some parts of a pistol or revolver. That said, few are made from tool steel these days, with many merely being cased on the striking surface. This would leave a mild steel back side that would be more suseptable to rusting than the face. Condensation and fouling would be the most likely cause of rust, don't you think. Perhaps some tanning salts might promote corrosion, though rather than mere rust.
: Pretty easy to remove it after being there for a day?
; Rawhide might be a better choice?

 

[roundball]

I am going to take his question a step further. Has anyone left them on for an extended period of time and the chemicals from tanning the leather rusted the frizzen? I have always been told not to let a pistol in a leather holster for that reason. Could this also happen to a frizzen? just courious.

An excellent question and one that I've thought about too...so when I had mine made, I specified I at least did not want any oiled leather...to use as plain, bone dry leather as possible;

And I've decided to only use the hammer stall if and when the rifle is loaded and I have the hammer at full cock like when on a deer stand...the leather is too thick to have it on at half cock anyway...so the amount of time the frizzen is actually covered is very minimal.

Finally, when finished for the day, I always wipe the frizzen down with an alcohol wipe in an effort to keep it clean as possible